A coroner is to ask for a review of guidance on possible side effects associated with a drug used to treat Acne to be following the death of a man in Suffolk.

David Chow, an internationally acclaimed photographer, blamed the drug for years of ill health before he took his own life.

Yesterday, an inquest at Bury St Edmunds heard how after suffering Depression and anxiety after treatment failed to improve a condition which made it painful to eat or talk, Mr Chow had killed himself.

Mr Chow, 38, of Cottenham, had in 1994 been prescribed the drug Roaccutane, also known as isotretinoin for mild Acne after being impressed with the results it had for a friend, the inquest heard.

Suffolk Coroner Dr Peter Dean said that within days of starting the treatment Mr Chow had began suffering from dry lips and minor nose bleeds but was told they were possible side effects and would clear.

However, the condition progressed to swollen lips and infections which, at times, left Mr Chow unable to speak for long and made eating difficult.

Consultations with a number of specialists failed to resolve the situation and Mr Chow was diagnosed as suffering from exfoliative cheilitis which led to severe crusting of his lips and in time began to cause “agonising pain” in his jaw because he was not able to move in a normal way.

Two operations and more treatment did not solve the issue, said Dr Dean, and for four years Mr Chow chaired the UK branch of an action group set up by people who believed they had been adversely affected by the Acne drug.

In a statement, Mr Chow’s parents Dr Arthur and Mrs Joy Chow, said their son had become anxious and depressed but was able to complete courses leading to business studies and accountancy qualifications at university.

Mr Chow’s most recent training had been in photography and he had worked successfully, despite being socially affected by his condition, specialising in restoring historic glass negatives and producing prints for organisations including the National Portrait Gallery, gaining international acclaim for his work.

Last year, Mr Chow had been staying with his parents at their home in Bury St Edmunds when on December 30, after complaining of agonising neck and face pain, he locked himself in the bathroom.

His father broke open the door using a hammer and found his son on the floor after trying to kill himself. Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful and he was declared dead at the scene.

A post mortem examination conducted by consultant pathologist Dr Carl Love confirmed that death had been due to wounds with contributory factors of anxiety and depression.

In a statement, consultant Professor Steven Challacombe who had seen Mr Chow at Guy’s Hospital, London said he had no doubt that the acne treatment had been the major cause of the exfoliative cheilitis.

Professor Challabombe said he believed that the medication had also increased Mr Chow’s depression, despite it having been used by Mr Chow 21 years earlier.

Recording a conclusion that Mr Chow’s death had been suicide, Dr Dean said: “He was someone who was clearly a highly gifted and highly talented young man who despite his difficulties achieved a great deal both academically and artistically in his life.

“It is also clear that he had a variety of difficult medical issues and concerns about the effects of medication that had been prescribed for him.”

Dr Dean added: “In view of concerns about the possible side effects of this medication I will write to the Chief Medical Officer and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency to ask them to look at possible problems with the drug and possible further complications.”

The Coroner said that throughout his problems, Mr Chow had been greatly supported by his family and he valued them greatly.

This is so sad! did this guy post on the forum? this condition is very difficult to live with and i feel so sad that he has had to deal with it since 1994. He battled the condition for so long i hope he is in a better place.

There are lots of people who got ec from taking accutane which is well known to cause eczema as a side effect. As it dries out the skin so much. Its strange because a lot of people got it from taking accutane but also theres a lot of people who have ec who didn't take the drug so its very confusing.

This is very sad - people don't understand how much this affects people. I would have thought my son was overreacting if I didnt come to this site and hear about what other people are going through.

Interestingly enough, I think my son got this from Minocycline - he is not convinced. He recently went to another derm who recommended Minoocycline!
For inflammation - Minocycline is actually an antibiotic! I was really concerned - Minocycline also has been known to cause lupus, blindness, etc. I didnt want him to take it, but he is going to because he said if his lips get worse at least he knows what causes it - and then maybe can figure out how to cure it.

I am very concerned but he is 21 and and has had this for 5 years - at this point he doesnt know if he can continue with his Engineering program because he has to take classes together. As worried as I am, maybe it will help him figure out the cause.

I know that this condition can be very tough but your life is worth more than this. We think that we are the only one with problems but everyone has their own problems . I am not saying that EC is a small thing . I have been suffering from the past 2 and a half years and it didn't bother me much when I was just managing it . Only when I started looking for cure is when I became depressed since i have been leaving it alone .
Problem with ec is that no one can empathise with us as it is a very rare condition.
Try to find something that can help in making your lips look normal if not perfect until we have the answers. I am now regretting taking accutane but I am still hopeful that one day ec will just be a bad memory from the past .
"This too shall pass"

That's really sad to read as I can totally relate. In these past 5 years of ec I've experienced major Depression & had many times thought about committing suicide because it seemed like "the only way out" of this horrible nightmare. There were nights I've literally cried myself to sleep because of Depression wishing I'd never wake up again and as a man in my 20's I'm not ashamed to admit it. Not only does this affect you physically but mentally too in every way that you neglect everything else in your life like you just don't care about anything anymore. "What's the point of being alive?" I ask myself constantly.

I'm sorry for this guys but after reading that post, I felt like I needed to get that off my chest.

I feel the same way Cotton, and I turned 30 this year. My achievements in life are those I feel I've managed to string together whilst spending most of my time restricted in body and mind.. as though I am living in an open prison.

This is exactly what it feels like, a prison. There's so many things I wanna do in life (travel the world, live in a different city, have a beautiful girlfriend, just to name a few) but I feel like I can't reach my full potential when my lips aren't 100%. I'm gonna use those goals as motivation to get better and I think everyone here should have some goals or dreams they wanna achieve just to give them that extra motivation needed to try & cure this condition.